Incitement to Religious Hatred

Baroness Ludford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What capacity there is under existing legislation to take action against those who incite hatred against religious groups, particularly with reference to the Public Order Act 1986.

Lord Rooker: While it is an offence to incite another to commit an offence, "religious hatred" in itself, like "racial hatred", is not an offence. That is why Part III of the Public Order Act 1986 contains specific incitement to racial hatred provisions. In this context "racial hatred" is defined as hatred against a group of persons in Great Britain defined by reference to colour, race, nationality (including citizenship) or ethnic or national origins. Under this definition the courts have ruled that Jews and Sikhs can be deemed "racial groups", by virtue of a specific ethnic identity, but that Muslims and Christians, for example, cannot. As part of the Anti-Terrorist, Crime and Security Bill introduced earlier this week, we have proposed expanding incitement to racial hatred to cover religious hatred, to protect everyone from religious hatred and harassment.

Terrorism Act 2000

Lord Dubs: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What arrangements they have made for the review of the Terrorism Act 2000; and how observations from interested persons and organisations may be submitted for consideration.

Lord Rooker: Lord Carlile of Berriew has accepted the invitation of my right honourable friend the Home Secretary to carry out the annual review of the Terrorism Act 2000.
	Written observations about the operation of the Act should be submitted to Lord Carlile, c/o 6th Floor, West Wing, Home Office, 50 Queen Anne's Gate, London SW1H 9AT by 31 December 2001.

Inheritance Tax

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will undertake a fundamental review of inheritance tax to make it fairer, for instance, by means of substantially increasing the exemption limit and taxing the remainder on a sliding scale from 10 per cent to 90 per cent and introducing measures to eliminate avoidance and evasion.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Chancellor of the Exchequer keeps all aspects of the tax system, including inheritance tax, under constant review.

Ocean Resources and Environment

Lord Hunt of Chesterton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will announce their national and international policies for the ocean resources and environment; and whether they will use the occasion of the Edinburgh declaration on 23 October to do so.

Lord Whitty: The Government welcome the declaration promoted by WWF in drawing attention to the threats that our oceans and seas face. Our Review of Marine Nature Conservation is assessing the success of previous measures to protect the UK's marine environment and will be putting forward proposals for improving marine conservation.
	The first Marine Stewardship Report, announced by my right honourable friend the Prime Minister earlier this year, will set out the Government's integrated marine strategy. We are currently consulting with key stakeholders on the aims and objectives of this report.

Rural Recovery Report

Earl Peel: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they received the report Rural Recovery after Foot-and-Mouth Disease, published on 18 October, from the Rural Recovery Co-ordinator, Lord Haskins; and
	Why, given that the report Rural Recovery after Foot-and-Mouth Disease from the Rural Recovery Co-ordinator, Lord Haskins, is dated 2 October, it was not made available to the House on 17 October for the debate on the countryside and rural recovery, a subject listed for debate on that day on the Order Paper since 19 July; and
	Whether any Minister, special adviser or official of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs was responsible for, or involved in, the briefing given to the press on Wednesday 17 October about the content of the report, Rural Recovery after Foot-and-Mouth Disease, published on 18 October, from the Rural Recovery Co-ordinator, Lord Haskins; and
	Whether any Ministers or their special advisers were involved in any discussions with the Government's Rural Recovery Co-ordinator, Lord Haskins, or his staff about the timing of the release of his report on a strategy for rural revival.

Lord Whitty: My noble friend Lord Haskins delivered a near-final draft of his report to my right honourable friend the Minister of State for Rural Affairs (Mr Alun Michael) on 2 October; however, my noble friend Lord Haskins made a number of amendments to it after that date following meetings with the regional development agencies and others.
	The planned date of publication, 18 October, was chosen as the earliest practical date when my noble friend Lord Haskins could launch his report and my right honourable friend the Secretary of State was available to respond to it in another place. It is normal for Ministers or their special advisers to play a role in the sensible and orderly scheduling of government business, and discussions were held with my noble friend Lord Haskins on that basis. Briefing to the press on 17 October was confined to forewarning them of the timing of publication of the report of my noble friend Lord Haskins.

BSE: Testing of Sheep Brains

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why the results of the inquiry into the testing of sheep brains for BSE were delayed; and when the results will now be made.

Lord Whitty: The work is being done as quickly as possible. Given the enormous sensitivities, it is obviously right for the issues to be examined with the greatest of care, so the full facts can be established. Whatever the outcome, the results will be put into the public domain as soon as possible.

London Air Quality

Baroness Ludford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How air quality in London is monitored.

Lord Whitty: Air quality is monitored in different ways at a large number of sites across London.
	First, there are seven fully automated air quality monitoring sites in London which form part of the Government's Automatic Urban and Rural Air Quality Monitoring Network (AURN). This network is made up of over 100 automatic monitoring stations across the country which are situated at a mixture of roadside, background and suburban locations. Site details are available via the department's website www.defra.gsi.gov.uk. Information from them is available in real time on an hourly basis for most key pollutants. The results are incorporated into the Government's air quality information service and made available over the Internet and via teletext, as well as via a freephone service.
	The Government also have a large non-automatic air quality monitoring network. Non-automatic (or "passive") air quality monitoring involves less frequent monitoring of pollutant concentrations and is used to calculate daily, weekly or monthly averages. Samples are collected by physical means (such as by diffusion tube or filter) and are then subjected to chemical analysis, with the final concentrations calculated from these results. This network includes over 1,000 non-automatic monitoring sites across the country, of which over 70 are in London.
	In addition to this, local authorities also have a key role to play in monitoring air quality in London and elsewhere. All local authorities are required to review and assess their air quality with a view to identifying possible pollution hotspots. As part of this process, most local authorities undertake both automatic and non-automatic monitoring of air quality at representative locations throughout their areas. The Government oversee this process and advise authorities on the technical aspects of monitoring, including on the appropriate siting of monitoring stations.
	Within London, each of the London boroughs carries out its own automatic and passive monitoring. The London Automatic Air Quality Monitoring Network (LAQMN) comprises about 66 urban, suburban and rural locations, of which 16 urban or suburban sites are affiliated to the national AURN. In addition to this, all of the London boroughs carry out their own non-automatic monitoring at a number of sites. Comprehensive details of these sites are not held centrally.

Cross-London Rail Link

Baroness Hanham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the current position with regard to Crossrail.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: At this stage no decisions have been made about the detailed service patterns of a Crossrail link or which destinations would be served. The current position is that the London East West Study report, produced in December 2000 by the Strategic Rail Authority in consultation with Transport for London and other interested parties, identified a number of service options for a cross London rail link. The report was considered by the High-Level Group which was set up to develop a co-ordinated approach to London rail projects. My right honourable friend the Minister for Transport chairs this group, which also includes the Mayor of London, the Commissioner for Transport in London and the Chairman of the Strategic Rail Authority. In May, the group decided, following additional appraisal of the SRA report, that work should start immediately on project definition and design development of a central, cross-London rail link.
	The project definition work is being taken forward jointly by the Strategic Rail Authority and Transport for London through Cross London Rail Links Ltd (CLRL). It was recently announced that Sir Christopher Benson had been appointed Chairman of CLRL. All potential route options are being examined in this stage. The project definition exercise will include extensive consultation with local authorities, regional development agencies and other interested parties before any recommendations on service patterns and routes are made to the High-Level Group. We hope that CLRL will be in a position to put a short list of options to the High-Level Group next spring, with a specific recommendation next autumn.

Railtrack

Viscount Astor: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they had asked the Strategic Rail Authority to conduct a regulatory review of Railtrack before putting it into administration.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: It is the responsibility of the Rail Regulator to conduct a regulatory review.

Railtrack

Viscount Astor: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Railtrack administrator has a responsibility to Railtrack shareholders; and, if this is the case, what is the nature of that responsibility.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The administrators of Railtrack plc have a duty under Section 59 of the Railways Act 1993 to manage the affairs, business and property of Railtrack plc for the achievement of the purposes of the railway administration order and in a manner which protects the respective interests of the members and creditors of the company in railway administration.
	The purposes of a railway administration order are to secure the transfer of the company's railway related activities to another company and the carrying on of those activities until then.

Railtrack Land Holdings

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 30 October (WA 155), when they expect the new licence condition on Railtrack plc regulating the disposal of its land holdings to come into effect; and whether, in the meantime, they will ensure that no such land holdings are disposed of.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Rail Regulator has been considering and investigating the issues raised in response to the detailed statutory consultation on the proposed modification to Railtrack's network licence. Railtrack has accepted the licence modification and the regulator therefore intends to make the modification to Railtrack's network licence very shortly.

Millennium Dome: Maintenance and Decommissioning Costs

Baroness Blatch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the cost of maintenance and decommissioning of the Millennium Dome since its closure.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Since the end of the Millennium Experience on 31 December 2000, the costs of care and maintenance 1 up to 31 December 2001 are expected to be some £4 million, of which £2.1 million fell to the New Millennium Experience Company (before 30 June 2001) and £1.9 million will have been incurred by English Partnerships (since 1 July). The full cost of decommissioning 2 is expected to be in the order of £15.75 million, of which £6 million will have fallen to the New Millennium Experience Company and £9.75 million to English Partnerships.
	The costs falling to NMEC came from the existing grant from the Millennium Commission last year. Costs incurred by English Partnerships will be recovered from eventual sale proceeds.
	1 Includes rates, utilities, security, maintenance and insurance.
	2 Costs incurred in preparation for the future use of the dome.

Millennium Dome: Maintenance and Decommissioning Costs

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	(a) What, for each of the Government, English Partnerships and the New Millennium Experience Company, payments have been made or agreed to be made to consultants and other professional advisers to test the market for sale or otherwise advise on the potential sale of the Millennium Dome site since 1 January 2000; (b) Whether and to what extent any of the amounts paid or agreed to be paid are contingent upon success criteria; and (c) What are those success criteria.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: As reported previously, the expected costs of the current sale process during 2001 are in the order of £1.7 million. This largely relates to consultants costs for the market testing and other matters associated with the ongoing sale process. The details of any contracts are commercially confidential but they include an incentive element.
	These costs will have been incurred by English Partnerships, which is managing the sale process on behalf of the Government. The New Millennium Experience Company also paid £82,000 to consultants for specific advisory work in connection with the potential sale of the Millennium Dome.
	The cost of the previous competition to find a long-term use for the Dome, which began in March 1999 and ended at the beginning of 2001, was £6.6 million.

Physical Agents Directives

Baroness Miller of Hendon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 1 November (WA 181), which were the "several industry associations" with whom they consulted about the physical agents directives on vibration and noise.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Health and Safety Executive has held meetings with the CBI, the Engineering Employers' Federation, the National Farmers' Union, the Agricultural Engineers' Association, the Construction Equipment Association, the British Compressed Air Society and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, as well as organising an industry seminar and speaking at industry conferences and advisory committees at which other industry groups were represented.

Physical Agents Directives

Baroness Miller of Hendon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 1 November (WA 181), how many inspectors will be employed to enforce the proposed physical agents directives; at what anticipated cost; and who will bear this cost.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Health and Safety Executive has not yet carried out an assessment of the resources that will be required to enforce the proposed physical agents directives. A compliance cost assessment will be prepared as part of the proposals to implement the directives when they have been adopted. The cost to enforcing authorities will form part of this assessment.

Bus Lane Enforcement Cameras

Lord Bradshaw: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they expect to announce the extension beyond London of bus lane enforcement cameras on buses or on the ground.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Regulations to be made under Section 144 of the Transport Act 2000 enabling imposition of penalty charges in respect of bus lane contraventions outside London using camera enforcement are in preparation. These powers will be made available to authorities outside London who have taken on decriminalised parking enforcement powers under the provisions of the Road Traffic Act 1991. We will consult on the draft regulations shortly.

Individual Learning Accounts

Lord Pilkington of Oxenford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the answer by Lord Davies of Oldham on 1 November (H.L. Deb., cols. 1515–17), what level of complaints about the individual learning accounts scheme justified their decision to strengthen the scheme in the summer; and
	Further to the answer by Lord Davies of Oldham on 1 November (H.L. Deb., cols. 1515–17), when they obtained evidence of real fraud being conducted in respect of the individual learning accounts scheme; and whether that evidence was the justification for strengthening the scheme in the summer.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The decision to strengthen the scheme was triggered by a rapid increase in the rate of the complaints. At 31/7/01, the department had received 3,096 complaints, equating to 0.19 per cent of more than 1.5 million learners who had opened ILA accounts. Two months later the number of complaints received had nearly doubled to 6,053, equating to 0.27 per cent of more than 2.3 million learners.
	By the end of October, no cases of fraud had been proved and 8,448 complaints had been received—just over a quarter of which concerned activity which would not comply with the rules of the scheme. The police have made 30 arrests involving four registered individual learning account providers. There are currently 84 registered learning providers about which the department has had a larger number of complaints and about which it has more serious concerns. Police are in the early stages of investigating suspected fraud by two of these and have expressed an initial interest in another nine providers. The department's Special Investigations Unit is undertaking investigative work on these nine cases prior to a possible formal police investigation.

Individual Learning Accounts

Baroness Blatch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they first received information about irregular applications for individual learning accounts.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The department first received information about incentives claimed by a provider without the knowledge of the account holder on 11 June this year. This and subsequent complaints led to the provider in question being suspended on 25 June.

Individual Learning Accounts

Baroness Blatch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Who authorised the publication of the document Education and Skills, Delivering Results. A Strategy to 2006, which pledged the continuation and expansion of individual learning accounts.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The document was authorised by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State.

Individual Learning Accounts

Baroness Blatch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many individual learning accounts have been awarded; and how many of them are deemed to be irregular.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: At the end of October, 2,529,609 individual learning accounts had been opened. We do not hold records about irregular accounts. However, we do identify incidences of irregular accounts through complaints received by individuals. In addition, manual verification checks are undertaken by the ILA Centre to identify potentially irregular applications and a routine analysis by the ILA Centre and officials also helps to distinguish irregular accounts.

Individual Learning Accounts

Baroness Blatch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What provision for verification of applications for individual learning accounts was put in place; and to what degree it has been successful.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The Individual Learning Account (ILA) Centre has a number of provisions to verify applications from individuals. The ILA software is designed to prevent more than one account being opened by the same individual. Manual verification checks are undertaken by the ILA Centre to identify potentially irregular applications and a routine analysis by the ILA Centre and officials also helps to distinguish irregular accounts.

Culture On Line

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 31 October (WA 162), when they will publish the business case for Culture On Line which has been prepared by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport; and when they will publish an account of the work which has formed the initial development of the project.

Baroness Blackstone: We are currently considering a number of alternative options for Culture On Line and we hope to make an announcement in the near future.
	The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has carried out a wide range of work to develop the project since it was announced in September 2000. I am arranging for copies of a summary of the work to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Golden Jubilee and Tourism

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What estimate they have made of the impact of the celebrations of the Queen's Golden Jubilee 2002 on the number of tourism visits from the United States and other key tourism markets to the United Kingdom.

Baroness Blackstone: The Queen's Golden Jubilee will form a key part of the British Tourist Authority's marketing campaign for 2002 which will be capitalising on Britain's key strengths of heritage, city life, countryside and sport.
	At this stage, given the difficulties the tourism industry has undergone following the events of 11 September, it is too early to make a precise estimate of the impact the Golden Jubilee will have on the total number of visits to Britain.